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SSG Richard Keirn
to remember
Funk, Leonard Alfred, Jr., 1ST SGT.
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Contact Info
Home Town Braddock, Pennsylvania
Last Address Braddock Hills, Pennsylvania
Date of Passing Sep 20, 1992
Location of Interment Arlington National Cemetery (VLM) - Arlington, Virginia
World War II Congressional Medal of Honor Recipent. He enlisted in the United States Army in June 1941, and volunteered for airborne training, later earning his wings. He was assigned to Company C, 508th Parachute Infantry, at Camp Blanding, Florida, as a First Sergeant with the United States Army, later going to England with the 508th and was still with them when they became part of the 82nd Airborne Division. On June 6, 1944, he parachuted into France during the Normandy Invasion, and into Holland during the Operation Market Garden on September 17, 1944. He also went with his airborne unit through Belgium, across the Rhine River in Germany, to the Elbe River where the unit waited to enter Berlin as the war came to an end. He distinguished himself by gallant, intrepid actions against the enemy. After advancing 15 miles in a driving snowstorm, the American force prepared to attack through waist-deep drifts. The company executive became a casualty, and Funk took over his duties, forming headquarters soldiers into a combat unit for an assault in the face of direct artillery shelling and harassing fire from the right flank. Under his leadershipo the 3rd Platoon attacked 15 houses, and took 30 prisoners hostage without suffering a single loss. The Company then took over Holzheim, Belgium, taking 80 prisoners. Shortly thereafter a battle ensued with heavy machine-gun fire. In all 21 germans were killed, many wounded, and others captured. For his actions and bravery on January 29, 1945, Funk received his medal at the White House in August 1945. He was also the recipient of the Distinguished Silver Cross, the Silver Star, and Purple Heart.
WWII - European Theater of Operations/Normandy Campaign (1944)/Operation Overlord/D-Day Beach Landings - Operation Neptune
From Month/Year
June / 1944
To Month/Year
June / 1944
Description The Normandy landings (codenamed Operation Neptune) were the landing operations on 6 June 1944 (termed D-Day) of the Allied invasion of Normandy in Operation Overlord during World War II. The largest seaborne invasion in history, the operation began the invasion of German-occupied western Europe, led to the restoration of the French Republic, and contributed to an Allied victory in the war.
Planning for the operation began in 1943. In the months leading up to the invasion, the Allies conducted a substantial military deception, codenamed Operation Bodyguard, to mislead the Germans as to the date and location of the main Allied landings. The weather on D-Day was far from ideal, but postponing would have meant a delay of at least two weeks, as the invasion planners had requirements for the phase of the moon, the tides, and the time of day that meant only a few days in each month were deemed suitable. Hitler placed German Field Marshal Erwin Rommel in command of German forces and of developing fortifications along the Atlantic Wall in anticipation of an Allied invasion.
The amphibious landings were preceded by extensive aerial and naval bombardment and an airborne assault—the landing of 24,000 British, US, and Canadian airborne troops shortly after midnight. Allied infantry and armoured divisions began landing on the coast of France starting at 06:30. The target 50-mile (80 km) stretch of the Normandy coast was divided into five sectors: Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno, and Sword Beach. Strong winds blew the landing craft east of their intended positions, particularly at Utah and Omaha. The men landed under heavy fire from gun emplacements overlooking the beaches, and the shore was mined and covered with obstacles such as wooden stakes, metal tripods, and barbed wire, making the work of the beach clearing teams difficult and dangerous. Casualties were heaviest at Omaha, with its high cliffs. At Gold, Juno, and Sword, several fortified towns were cleared in house-to-house fighting, and two major gun emplacements at Gold were disabled using specialised tanks.
The Allies failed to achieve all of their goals on the first day. Carentan, St. Lô, and Bayeux remained in German hands, and Caen, a major objective, was not captured until 21 July. Only two of the beaches (Juno and Gold) were linked on the first day, and all five bridgeheads were not connected until 12 June. However, the operation gained a foothold that the Allies gradually expanded over the coming months. German casualties on D-Day were around 1,000 men. Allied casualties were at least 10,000, with 4,414 confirmed dead. Museums, memorials, and war cemeteries in the area host many visitors each year.
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